Wishes Not Resolutions

People make unkept promises to themselves and others. We are all guilty of this, so we need to realise that making empty promises is not the exclusive preserve of politicians.

The Danish proverb about eggs being easily broken applies to many who go through the ritual of making New Year’s resolutions every year.

A New Year’s resolution is the annual tradition whereby one resolves to change or eliminate an undesired trait, behaviour or habit and to cultivate new ones with the aim to achieve a personal goal and thereby improve life.

At this time of the year, making resolutions provides an opportunity to observe a situation or remind oneself of an undesirable habit and then make a promise or commitment to start a change process that delivers a desired or better outcome.

Common resolutions are to save more and spend less, further education, on gaining a skill, to live healthier, exercise more, eat less and lose weight, especially after weeks of feasting over the festive season.

Health and fitness gyms love this time of the year as membership applications spike, to the extent that facilities are stretched to the limit.

However, coping with the influx doesn’t bother gym owners who know from experience that most health, fitness and weight-loss aspirants will drop out within a month or two.

They also know the upfront annual gym membership fee remains behind.

The Romans began the year by making promises to the god, Janus, after which the year’s first month, January, is named.

Before the Romans, the Babylonians made promises to their gods at the beginning of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. Many of us wish family and friends with annoying borrowing habits would seek similar divine intervention.

The New Year’s resolution tradition has other religious ties too.

At watchnight services, Christians prepare for a coming year by praying and pledging improved behavioural commitments.

In Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays culminating in the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, believers reflect upon wrongdoings over the year, seeking and offering forgiveness.

What is the purpose of making a New Year’s resolution and then breaking it within a few weeks?

This is the reason I discarded the habit ages ago and decided to rather have wishes and work hard to transform them into a reality.

This year, I begin by wishing for good health and happiness for family, friends, associates and all Namibians.

I also wished that my thoughts, abilities and strength never lose focus of purpose, which is to do something that holds the potential of changing the lives of others for the better.

In addition, I wished for a healthy dose of good humour, even when a taxi driver cuts in front of my car or stops abruptly without warning; for a great deal of patience, in dealing with firms who forget that the reason for being in business is to serve customers; and for patience when engaging with officialdom, particularly with civil servants who make life difficult and complicated by being akin to civilian serpents.

The next time we meet, and I have gained weight, just remember that a holiday was not a good one unless you put on at least five kilograms.

• Danny Meyer is reachable at danny@smecompete.com